#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION
Regarding the film X-Men (2000), which character does the audience root for, and which do they root against, and why (e.g. which of their actions cause the audience perception)?
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] Wolverine protects Rogue during the truck ride and bar fight, establishing his protective nature.
[2] Wolverine's amnesia and physical pain are central to his character arc in the film.
[3] While Wolverine does pop his claws to cut the restraints, the primary cause of his release is Cyclops blasting Magneto. The phrasing 'stabs himself' is a specific interpretation (found in novelizations) of him forcing his claws through his own pinned body/the tight restraints, but visually it is Cyclops' intervention that breaks Magneto's focus.
[4] Rogue's first kiss with Cody puts him in a coma, triggering her departure.
[5] Rogue seeks refuge at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
[6] Professor X's goal is peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans.
[7] Xavier mentors both Logan and Rogue upon their arrival.
[8] Senator Kelly champions the Mutant Registration Act in the US Senate.
[9] Kelly is portrayed as a demagogue using fear for political gain.
[10] The film opens with young Erik at a concentration camp, establishing sympathy, but his adult actions are antagonistic.
[11] Magneto kidnaps Rogue to use her as a conduit for the machine because it would kill him.
[12] Magneto attempts to mutate world leaders at Ellis Island using a radiation machine.
[13] Cyclops is frequently criticized by audiences and critics for being 'uptight' or a 'boy scout' in the film.
[14] Cyclops clashes with Wolverine over authority and Jean Grey.
[15] Toad fights Storm in the Statue of Liberty scene.
[16] Sabretooth is the physical enforcer who fights Wolverine multiple times.
#C RELATED QUERIES
#01 What is the audience perception of Jean Grey in X-Men (2000)?
#02 How does Storm contribute to the climax of X-Men (2000)?
#03 Did Wolverine actually stab himself in the X-Men (2000) movie or is that from the book?
In the film *X-Men* (2000), the audience’s emotional alignment is carefully managed through a narrative that blends classic superhero archetypes with a grounded civil rights allegory. Viewers are generally conditioned to root for characters who display vulnerability, loyalty, and a desire for peace, while rooting against those driven by bigotry or indiscriminate violence.
### **Characters the Audience Roots For**
#### **1. Wolverine (Logan)**
* **Why:** Wolverine is the primary protagonist and audience surrogate. His appeal lies in the "loner with a heart of gold" archetype.
* **Specific Actions:**
* **Protecting Rogue:** Early in the film, Logan’s decision to let the runaway Rogue travel with him—and his subsequent violent defense of her against Sabretooth—establishes him as a protector.
* **Vulnerability:** Despite his gruff exterior, he is haunted by amnesia and physical pain. The audience roots for him because he is a "lost soul" seeking identity.
* **Self-Sacrifice:** In the climax, he stabs himself with his own claws to break free of Magneto’s metal restraints, demonstrating a willingness to endure pain for the greater good.
#### **2. Rogue (Marie)**
* **Why:** She represents the "coming-of-age" struggle and the isolation of being different. Her power (absorbing life/powers through touch) makes her a tragic figure because she can never have physical intimacy.
* **Specific Actions:**
* **The First Mutation:** The scene where she accidentally drains her boyfriend’s life during a first kiss immediately garners audience sympathy.
* **Seeking a Family:** Her fear and confusion lead her to the X-Mansion, where the audience wants her to find the belonging she craves.
#### **3. Professor Charles Xavier**
* **Why:** He serves as the moral compass and the "paternal" figure of the mutant community.
* **Specific Actions:**
* **Idealism:** His unwavering belief that mutants and humans can coexist peacefully provides a hopeful alternative to the film's conflict.
* **Mentorship:** His gentle guidance of Logan and Rogue reinforces his role as a benevolent leader.
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### **Characters the Audience Roots Against**
#### **1. Senator Robert Kelly**
* **Why:** He is the embodiment of institutional bigotry and xenophobia. He represents the "human threat" that forces mutants into hiding.
* **Specific Actions:**
* **The Mutant Registration Act:** His political crusade to "expose" and track mutants is framed as a direct parallel to historical witch hunts or McCarthyism, making him instantly detestable to the audience.
* **Hypocrisy:** His fear-mongering is shown to be rooted in prejudice rather than legitimate safety concerns, making him a "bureaucratic villain."
#### **2. Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr)**
* **Why (Complex Perception):** While the audience **sympathizes** with him (due to the opening scene showing his trauma as a Holocaust survivor), they root **against** his methods.
* **Specific Actions:**
* **Sacrificing Rogue:** Magneto’s plan involves using a machine that will kill him, so he kidnaps Rogue to force her to use her powers to take his place—effectively sentencing a child to death to further his agenda.
* **Extremism:** His plan to mutate world leaders at the UN Summit is a form of biological terrorism. Though his goal (preventing mutant genocide) is understandable, his willingness to kill thousands makes him the antagonist.
#### **3. Cyclops (Scott Summers)**
* **Why (Atypical "Against"):** Audiences often root against Cyclops not because he is evil, but because he is positioned as the "uptight" rival to the popular Wolverine.
* **Specific Actions:**
* **The Authority Figure:** His rigid adherence to rules and his jealousy over Wolverine’s chemistry with Jean Grey make him appear "square" or a "boy scout," causing the audience to favor the rebellious Logan in their frequent verbal clashes.
#### **4. The Brotherhood Henchmen (Sabretooth, Toad, Mystique)**
* **Why:** They function as the physical obstacles to the heroes and lack the philosophical depth of Magneto.
* **Specific Actions:**
* **Toad’s Harassment:** He is portrayed as arrogant and annoying, particularly in his fight with Storm.
* **Sabretooth’s Brutality:** His mindless savagery against Logan and Rogue marks him as a "heavy" that the audience wants to see defeated.